Lift installed to make platforms fully accessible from the street
Osterley Underground station. Picture: TfL
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New lifts have been installed at Osterley Underground Station to enable step-free access from street to platform.
The Piccadilly line station has two new lifts and improved signage. Alongside these upgrades, boarding ramps will continue to be available to assist passengers to board or alight the train, along with tactile paving along the full length of both.
The two new lifts should improve access within the station for people with additional mobility needs, heavy luggage or those travelling with children in buggies. This will be especially helpful for those travelling to and from Heathrow airport on the Piccadilly line.
The completion of work at Osterley brings the total number of step-free stations on the Tube to 89 following the opening of two new step-free stations on the Northern Line Extension at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station last month. Step-free access has also been introduced this year at Underground stations at Wimbledon Park (in August), Ickenham (in June), Debden (in April) and Amersham (in February). Work is continuing on Harrow-on-the-Hill and Sudbury Hill, which are scheduled to go step-free later this year.
One of the new lifts at Osterley Station. Picture: TfL
In addition, Ealing Broadway was made step-free in May 2021 in preparation for the Elizabeth line, and Whitechapel became step-free when the original station entrance on Whitechapel Road re-opened in August 2021.
Esther Sharples, London Underground’s Director of Asset Performance and Capital Delivery, said, “Osterley Tube station becoming step-free is another milestone in our pledge to make the Underground network more accessible and comes hot on the heels of two brand new step-free stations opening on the Northern Line Extension at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station last month. People with additional mobility needs as well as those with children in buggies or carrying heavy luggage can now access the Tube with greater ease at Osterley station, improving their journeys.”
Jim Foy, the National Trust’s Assistant Director of Operations for London, said, “Over the past five years we’ve worked hard towards improving our own levels of accessibly at Osterley Park and House, including the installation of wider, multi-use pathways in 2017. This means we were delighted to learn that Osterley is now a step-free station. We hope this will be of huge benefit to those travelling with access needs and allow more people to discover the nature, beauty and history available at Osterley Park and House”.
Later this year, TfL will launch a consultation to enable Londoners and disabled public transport users to give their feedback on where further step-free improvements across London could be made in the coming years, subject to available funding.
All London Underground and London Overground stations offer a Turn-up-and-go service for passengers needing assistance with their journeys. Passengers using this service do not need to pre-book assistance and can request help on arrival at the station. All TfL staff are trained to support and advise customers with accessibility needs so that they can complete their journeys.
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October 8, 2021
